Charles City, IA vs Hawarden, IA

Charles City is moderately more affordable than Hawarden, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Charles City scores 61 compared to 68 for Hawarden, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hawarden can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Charles City is $628/month compared to $881/month in Hawarden — a 29% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Charles City is more affordable at $118,900 median vs $132,700.

Median household income in Charles City is $56,734 compared to $69,375 in Hawarden (-18.2%). While Hawarden is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Charles City spend roughly 13.3% of their income on rent, less than the 15.2% in Hawarden.